The ninety-second in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India’s most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.
In this talk, continuing with Chapter 18:64, Swamiji discusses the love of God for us, and how we should respond with love for him, and what real divine love is. He recounts what it was like to sit in the presence of Anandamayi ma. He also talks about the result of taking refuge in God.
For those wishing to make a deeper study of the Gita, Swamiji’s commentary on the Gita, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening: A Practical Commentary for Leading a Successful Spiritual Life can be found at Amazon.com.
Here are the Gita verses (18:64–18:66) covered in this talk:
Hear again my highest teaching, most secret of all, because you are dearly loved by me; therefore I shall tell you what is for your good. (18:64)
Fix your mind on me, be devoted to me, sacrifice and bow down to me. In this way you shall truly come to me, for I promise you–you are dear to me. (18:65)
Abandoning all duties, take refuge in me alone; then I shall free you from all demerits, do not grieve. (18:66)
Here are the main points from this talk Love of God (Both Ways):
🕉️ Krishna’s Final and Most Sacred Teaching
- Krishna declares this final teaching the most sacred—because Arjuna is deeply loved by God.
- Love of God is not mere emotion; it is a magnetic force drawing the soul into divine union.
- When someone chooses God, it is a sign that God has already chosen them.
🔁 Divine Love Is Mutual
- Love flows both ways: God seeks the soul, and the soul must also seek God.
- Swamiji quotes Yogananda: “God is running after human beings.”
- But humans often reply: “I don’t have time for you.”
- This is man’s inhumanity to God—willful separation.
💞 Divine Love Is Personal and Complete
- All beings have all the love of God, but not all are aware or responsive to it.
- Example from Ma Anandamayi: Every person felt entirely known and loved by her at once.
- The problem is never in God, only in our lack of receptivity and response.
📿 How to Respond to Divine Love
Krishna urges:
- Fix your mind on Me
- Be devoted to Me
- Sacrifice and bow down to Me
- Abandon all lesser dharmas (even those that are “good” but distract from God)
These are not symbolic—this is the path to union with God.
🛐 True Refuge and Release
- Krishna invites the soul to take refuge in Him alone.
- Not “surrender” to gurus or cults, but Sharanam—refuge in the Divine.
Doing so, Krishna promises:
- Release from all karmic demerits
- Freedom from grief
- Final union with God
📖 The Cost—and the Reward
- True spiritual life asks everything: like Mirabai, we must “sell all” to “buy God.”
- The world will say the price was too much—or too little—but only the devotee knows:
“It was everything I had.”
Below is an audio version of this talk from our Gita Talks Podcast
Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke)
Swami Nirmalananda Giri, founder of Light of the Spirit Monastery, has spent over six decades immersed in the study and practice of Yoga and and the spiritual traditions of East and West. He is the author of more than 30 books on meditation, practical spiritual life and Sanatana Dharma. Learn more »
